Fastening member and external wall construction structure

ABSTRACT

A fastening member is formed out of one steel sheet to comprise: a base plate portion constituting amount portion to be fixed to a building frame; a right support portion, a left support portion, a central support portion and a lower support portion that fix stably the exterior wall boards; a central horizontal raised portion and a downwardly bent portion that lock shiplap portions of an exterior wall board disposed below the fastening member; bearing portions and upper-board locking portions that lock the shiplap portions of exterior wall boards that are disposed above the fastening member; upwardly bent portions; and front plate portions. A waterproof material made of bentonite is provided at the left and right ends of the central horizontal raised portion, the top surfaces of the upwardly bent portions and the front surfaces of the front plate portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fastening member used for fasteningexterior wall boards to a structural building frame, and to an externalwall construction structure using the fastening member.

2. Description of the Related Art

As illustrated in FIG. 16, exterior wall boards include exterior wallboards A having shiplap portions at least at the upper edge and thelower edge. To construct the exterior wall of a building with exteriorwall boards A, fastening members are used to fasten a plurality of suchexterior wall boards to the building frame of the building in astaggered joint layout (for instance, as disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 2002-371689). FIG. 17 illustrates a fasteningmember disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2002-371689. The fastening member, which is formed by bending a steelsheet, comprises a base plate portion that abuts the back surface ofexterior wall when the board is fastened; a central horizontal raisedportion that is elected in the horizontal direction, frontward from thebase plate portion: a downwardly bent portion bent downwards from thefront end of the central horizontal raised portion; upwardly bentportions, provided at the left and right of the downwardly bent portion,and bent obliquely upwards from the front end of the central horizontalraised portion; front plate portions bent downwards from the upper endof the upwardly bent portions; bearing portions that are erected in thehorizontal direction, at the left and right of the central horizontalraised portion, frontward from the base plate portion; upper-boardlocking portions bent upwards from the front end of the bearingportions; lower-board locking portions bent downwards from the front endof the bearing portions; and connection portions that connect, in thevertical direction, the leading ends of the upper-board locking portionsand the leading ends of the lower-board locking portions; wherein anelastic material is provided at the left and right ends of the centralhorizontal raised portion, the top surfaces of the upwardly bentportions and the front surfaces of the front plate portions.

During fixing of the fastening member to a building frame, a bent upperleg and the leading end of a bent lower leg of the base plate portionare fixed to the building frame. To put up the exterior wall boards,these are fastened in such a manner that the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards above the fastening member arelocked on the bearing portions and the upper-board locking portions ofthe fastening member, with the back surface of the exterior wall boardsabutting the base plate portion of the fastening member. The exteriorwall board below the fastening member, meanwhile, is fastened in such amanner that the shiplap portion of the upper edge of the exterior wallboard is locked on the central horizontal raised portion, the downwardlybent portion, the bearing portions and the lower-board locking portion,with the back surface of the exterior wall board abutting the base plateportion.

In the above-described fastening member, moreover, an elastic materialis provided at the left and right ends of the central horizontal raisedportion, the top surfaces of the upwardly bent portions and the frontsurfaces of the front plate portions. As a result, when the fasteningmember is disposed at the lower end of a vertical joint, rainwater orthe like trickling down the vertical joint can be caught by the centralhorizontal raised portion between the left and right elastic materials,so that the water can be arrested by the elastic material and drainedtowards the front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bentportion.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-371689 discloses also afastening stopper comprising a base plate portion that abuts the backsurface of the exterior wall board; a bearing portion that is erected inthe horizontal direction at the front of the base plate portion; anupper-board locking portion bent upwards from the front end of thebearing portion; a lower-board locking portion bent downwards from thefront end of the bearing portion; and a vertical raised portion that iserected in the vertical direction, from the front of the base plateportion, at a position below that of the bearing portion. FIG. 18illustrates such a fastening stopper. During construction of theexterior wall, the fastening stopper is fixed to the backing material insuch a manner that the base plate portion of the fastening stopper abutsthe back surface of the exterior wall board, the upper sides of theexterior wall boards that are disposed below the fastening stopper arelocked on the lower-board locking portion of the fastening stopper, thelower side of the exterior wall board disposed above the fasteningstopper rests on the bearing portion of the fastening stopper and islocked on the upper-board locking portion, and the side end faces of theexterior wall boards below the fastening stopper abut the verticalraised portion.

The vertical raised portion of the fastening stopper allows preventingthe exterior wall boards positioned below the fastening stopper fromshifting to the left or right.

In the external wall construction structure of Japanese PatentApplication Laid-open No. 2002-371689, however, the shiplap portion ofthe lower edge of the exterior wall board disposed above the fasteningstopper must abut reliably the elastic material of the fastening memberso that no gap is left in between, in order to reliably preventrainwater or the like from intruding into the exterior wall. However,there are limits to the precision with which the exterior wall boardsare put up, and therefore it is difficult to avoid completely thepresence of gaps between the exterior wall boards and the elasticmaterial in such an external wall construction structure. Moreover, theelastic material is, for instance, a rubber foam material comprisingethylene rubber, EPDM (ethylene-propylene rubber) or the like, or asynthetic resin foam material such as polyethylene. As a result,elasticity may become impaired and gaps may grow in size as time goesby.

Although the fastening stopper of Japanese Patent Application Laid-openNo. 2002-371689 allows preventing left-right shifting of the exteriorwall boards that are disposed below the fastening stopper, the latter isineffective against contraction of the exterior wall boards themselvesor against distortion of the entire structure onto which the exteriorwall boards are mounted, so that gaps may form at seams between exteriorwall boards. When gaps form at seams between exterior wall boards, thecentral horizontal raised portion and the downwardly bent portion of thefastening member become exposed at the site where the shiplap portionsof the three exterior wall boards meet to form an inverted T-joint.Although the gaps at seams between exterior wall boards are in theshadow, the central horizontal raised portion and the downwardly bentportion have ordinarily a metallic hue, and are thus easily noticeable.

Moreover, the uncovered central horizontal raised portion and thedownwardly bent portion become then exposed to rain, sunlight and thelike at all times, which may result in corrosion and deterioration ofthe metal sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problems of conventional external wallconstruction structures, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a fastening member and an external wall construction structurethat do not corrode or deteriorate easily, in which the fastening memberabuts reliably the shiplap portions of the lower edges of exterior wallboards that are put up above the fastening member, in which the abuttingstate of the fastening member with the shiplap portions of the loweredges of the exterior wall boards is preserved also after construction,and in which no part of the fastening member is noticeable, even whenexposed through gaps between exterior wall boards.

According to a first aspect of the present invention is a fasteningmember for an exterior wall board, comprising: a left support portionand a right support portion provided at left and right sides of thefastening member, and abutting a back surface of the exterior wall boardwhen the board is fastened, the fastening member further comprising, ata region flanked by the left support portion and the right supportportion: a base plate portion constituting a mount portion to be fixedto a building frame; a central support portion that abuts the backsurface of the exterior wall board when the board is fastened; a centralhorizontal raised portion that is erected, in a horizontal direction,frontward from the lower end of the central support portion; adownwardly bent portion that is bent downwards from the front end of thecentral horizontal raised portion; upwardly bent portions that areprovided at the left and right of the downwardly bent portion, and arebent obliquely upwards from the front end of the central horizontalraised portion; front plate portions that are bent downwards from theupper end of the upwardly bent portions; bearing portions that areerected in the horizontal direction, at the left and right of thecentral horizontal raised portion, frontward from the central supportportion; upper-board locking portions bent upwards from the front end ofthe bearing portions; and

a lower support portion that abuts the back surface of the exterior wallboard when the board is fastened, the left support portion, the rightsupport portion, the lower support portion and the central supportportion of the fastening member being formed contiguously to each otherthrough drawing one steel sheet; the base plate portion being formedthrough depressing part of the upper region of the steel sheet towardsthe back surface thereof; the central horizontal raised portion, thedownwardly bent portion, the upwardly bent portions, the front plateportions, the bearing portions and the upper-board locking portionsbeing formed through cutting and raising part of the lower region of thesteel sheet towards the front surface thereof; a waterproof materialbeing provided at the left and right ends of the central horizontalraised portion, the top surfaces of the upwardly bent portions and thefront surfaces of the front plate portions; and the waterproof materialbeing made of bentonite.

In the fastening member of the present invention, moreover, thewaterproof material provided at the left and right ends of the centralhorizontal raised portion, the top surfaces of the upwardly bentportions and the front surfaces of the front plate portions may comprisebentonite alone, or may comprise bentonite plus a rubber foam materialcomprising ethylene rubber such as EPDM (ethylene-propylene rubber), ora synthetic resin foam material such as polyethylene. When usingconcomitantly bentonite and EPDM or the like, the waterproof materialmay be a molded product of a laminate of bentonite and EPDM or the like,or may be a molded product of a mixture of bentonite and EPDM or thelike.

As the steel sheet there can be used a Galvalume steel sheet, a galtitesteel sheet, an aluminum steel sheet, a stainless steel sheet, an alloyplated steel sheet, a galvanized plate, a copper sheet or the like.

The fastening member of the present invention can be reliably fixed to abuilding frame by way of the base plate portion that constitutes amountportion to be fixed to the building frame. The left support portion, theright support portion, the central support portion and the lower supportportion allow the exterior wall board to be fixed stably throughabutting of the fastening member against the back surface of theexterior wall board when the board is fastened. The central horizontalraised portion and the downwardly bent portion allow locking the shiplapportion of the upper edge of the exterior wall board that is disposedbelow the fastening member, while the bearing portions and theupper-board locking portions allow locking the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards that are disposed above thefastening member.

Even if small gaps exist between the fastening member and the shiplapportions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards that are put upabove the fastening member, the bentonite that is provided at the leftand right ends of the central horizontal raised portion, the topsurfaces of the upwardly bent portions and the front surfaces of thefront plate portions of the fastening member swells on account of thefirst rainwater that intrudes. The swollen bentonite fills up the gapsbetween the shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wallboards and the fastening member. As a result, the shiplap portions ofthe lower edges of the exterior wall boards abut the fastening memberreliably, and rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical jointcan be caught and reliably arrested by the central horizontal raisedportion, to be drained towards the front of the exterior wall by way ofthe downwardly bent portion. When the waterproof material contains anelastic material such as EPDM or the like, the elastic material maydeteriorate over time giving rise to small gaps between the fasteningmember and the shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wallboards. However, the waterproof material comprises bentonite, and hencethe bentonite swells on account of intruding water and fills up theformed gaps, whereby rainwater or the like trickling down the verticaljoint can be arrested and drained over long periods of time.

Further, the fastening member is formed out of a steel sheet and has asimple shape. As a result, the fastening member does not deform readilyeven under the action of external forces, and thus the exterior wallboards can be reliably fixed over long periods of time. The fasteningmember, moreover, can be manufactured easily and with good productivity,with manufacturing costs kept low.

According to a second aspect of the present invention is the fasteningmember according to the first aspect, wherein the waterproof material ismade of bentonite and an elastic material. The elastic material is amaterial having elasticity, for instance a rubber foam materialcomprising ethylene rubber, EPDM (ethylene-propylene rubber) or thelike, or a synthetic resin foam material such as polyethylene. Thewaterproof material may be a molded product of a laminate of bentoniteand the elastic material, or a molded product of a mixture of bentoniteand the elastic material.

In the present invention, the elastic waterproof material comprisingbentonite and the elastic material is provided at the left and rightends of the central horizontal raised portion, the top surfaces of theupwardly bent portions and the front surfaces of the front plateportions. As a result, the elastic waterproof material allows furtherfilling up the space between the fastening member and the shiplapportions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards that aredisposed above the fastening member. Even if small gaps form between thefastening member and the shiplap portions of the lowers edges of theexterior wall boards when the latter are put up, the gaps are filled upby the bentonite, which swells on account of the first rainwater thatintrudes. Thus, the shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exteriorwall boards abut the fastening member reliably, and rainwater or thelike trickling down the vertical joint can be caught and reliablyarrested by the central horizontal raised portion, to be drained towardsthe front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bent portion.Likewise, even if small gaps form between the fastening member and theshiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards as theelastic material deteriorates over time, the formed gaps are filled upby the bentonite contained in the waterproof material and that swells onaccount of the first rainwater that intrudes. As a result, rainwater orthe like trickling down the vertical joint can be arrested and drainedover long periods of time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention is the fasteningmember according to the first or second aspect, wherein the downwardlybent portion is coated in a blackish color or has a blackish tapeadhered thereto. This blackish color maybe black, dark brown, dark greyor the like. The coating may be an acrylic resin coating, a urethaneresin coating, a silicone resin coating, an epoxy resin coating or thelike.

In the present invention, the downwardly bent portion of the fasteningmember remains unnoticed, thanks to its blackish color, even when gapsform at the seams between exterior wall boards due to contraction of theexterior wall boards themselves or due to distortion of the entirestructure to which the exterior wall boards are mounted. Also, thedownwardly bent portion is coated or has a tape adhered thereto. Thedownwardly bent portion is therefore protected by the tape or thecoating, and is thus less susceptible to corrosion and deterioration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the fasteningmember according to the first, second or third aspect, wherein thecentral horizontal raised portion is coated in a blackish color or has ablackish tape adhered thereto. This blackish color may be black, darkbrown, dark grey or the like. The coating may be an acrylic resincoating, a urethane resin coating, a silicone resin coating, an epoxyresin coating or the like.

In the present invention, the central horizontal raised portion of thefastening member remains unnoticed, thanks to its blackish color, evenwhen gaps form at the seams between exterior wall boards due tocontraction of the exterior wall boards themselves or due to distortionof the entire structure to which the exterior wall boards are mounted.Also, the central horizontal raised portion is coated or has a tapeadhered thereto. The central horizontal raised portion is thereforeprotected by the tape or the coating, and is thus less susceptible tocorrosion and deterioration.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an external wallconstruction structure, comprising: a plurality of fastening membersaccording to the first, second, third or fourth aspect mounted inmultiple rows such that a base plate portion abuts a mounting surface ofa building frame; an exterior wall board having shiplap portions atleast at an upper edge and a lower edge, and fastened in such a mannerthat the back surface thereof abuts the left support portion, rightsupport portion, central support portion and lower support portion ofthe fastening member; the shiplap portions of the upper edges of theexterior wall board are locked on the central horizontal raised portionand the downwardly bent portion of the fastening member at an upperposition; the shiplap portions of the lower edge of the exterior wallboard are locked on the bearing portions and the upper-board lockingportions of the fastening member at a lower position; and the shiplapportions of the lower edge of the exterior wall boards abut thewaterproof material.

The external wall construction structure of the present invention allowsexterior wall boards to be reliably locked and fixed. Also, a waterproofmaterial comprising bentonite is provided at the left and right ends ofthe central horizontal raised portion, the top surfaces of the upwardlybent portions and the front surfaces of the front plate portions of thefastening member that is mounted, so that the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards are locked abutting thewaterproof material. As a result, even if small gaps exist between thefastening member and the shiplap portions of the lowers edges of theexterior wall boards, the gaps are filled up by the bentonite in thewaterproof material, which swells on account of the first rainwater thatintrudes. Thus, the shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exteriorwall boards abut the fastening member reliably, and rainwater or thelike trickling down the vertical joint can be caught and reliablyarrested by the central horizontal raised portion, to be drained towardsthe front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bent portion.Likewise, even if small gaps form between the fastening member and theshiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards throughdeterioration over time of the elastic material, such as EPDM, containedin the waterproof material, the formed gaps are filled up by thebentonite contained in the waterproof material and that swells onaccount of the first rainwater that intrudes. As a result, rainwater orthe like trickling down the vertical joint can be arrested and drainedover long periods of time.

When using a fastening member in which the downwardly bent portionand/or the central horizontal raised portion are coated in a blackishcolor or have a blackish tape adhered thereto, the downwardly bentportion and/or the central horizontal raised portion in the externalwall construction structure are less likely to corrode or deteriorate.

The present invention succeeds thus in providing a fastening member andan external wall construction structure that do not corrode ordeteriorate easily, in which the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards that are put up above the fastening member abutthe fastening member reliably, in which the abutting state of thefastening member with the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards is preserved also after construction, and in whichno part of the fastening member is noticeable, even when exposed throughgaps at the seams between exterior wall boards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fastening memberaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a working diagram illustrating an embodiment of an externalwall construction structure according to the present invention, in whichthe fastening member illustrated in FIG. 1 is fixed to a building frameof a building;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a working diagram illustrating another embodiment of anexternal wall construction structure according to the present invention,in which the fastening member illustrated in FIG. 4 is fixed to abuilding frame of a building;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a working diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of anexternal wall construction structure according to the present invention,in which the fastening member illustrated in FIG. 7 is fixed to abuilding frame of a building;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a working diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of anexternal wall construction structure according to the present invention,in which the fastening member illustrated in FIG. 10 is fixed to abuilding frame of a building;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a working diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of anexternal wall construction structure according to the present invention,in which the fastening member illustrated in FIG. 13 is fixed to abuilding frame of a building;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG.14;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an exterior wall board having shiplapportions on the upper edge and the lower edge;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a conventional fastening member; and

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a conventional fastening stopper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in detailnext with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fastening memberaccording to the present invention.

A fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is manufactured out of aGalvalume steel sheet having a thickness of 0.8 mm. At the left andright sides, the fastening member B1 comprises a left support portion 8and a right support portion 9 that abut each the back surface of anexterior wall board when the board is fastened.

In the area flanked by the left support portion 8 and the right supportportion 9, the fastening member B1 comprises a base plate portion 3 thatconstitutes a mount portion to be fixed to a building frame; a centralsupport portion 10 that abuts the back surface of an exterior wall boardwhen the board is fastened; a central horizontal raised portion 12 athat is erected in a horizontal direction, frontward from the lower endof the central support portion 10; a downwardly bent portion 13 a bentdownwards from the front end of the central horizontal raised portion 12a; upwardly bent portions 14, provided at the left and right of thedownwardly bent portion 13 a, and bent obliquely upwards from the frontend of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a; front plate portions15 bent downwards from the upper end of the upwardly bent portions 14;bearing portions 16 that are erected in the horizontal direction, at theleft and right of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, frontwardfrom the central support portion 10; upper-board locking portions 17bent upwards from the front end of the bearing portions 16; and a lowersupport portion 11 that abuts the back surface of an exterior wall boardwhen the board is fastened.

The left support portion 8, the right support portion 9, the lowersupport portion 11 and the central support portion 10 are formedcontiguously to each other through drawing of a steel sheet. The baseplate portion 3 is formed through depressing part of the upper region ofthe steel sheet towards the back surface thereof. The central horizontalraised portion 12 a, the downwardly bent portion 13 a, the upwardly bentportions 14, the front plate portions 15, the bearing portions 16 andthe upper-board locking portions 17 are formed through cutting andraising of part of the lower region of the steel sheet towards the frontsurface thereof.

The base plate portion 3 comprises a bulging portion 4, nail openings 5,screw holes 6 and ribs 7. Flange portions 1 that extend flush with thebase plate portion 3 are provided in the vicinity of the outward sidesof the left support portion 8 and the right support portion 9. Cutouts 2are provided in the vicinity of the inward sides of the left supportportion 8 and the right support portion 9. The bulging portion 4 and theribs 7 are likewise formed by drawing.

A waterproof material D1 comprising bentonite is provided on the leftand right ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, on the topsurfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14, and on the front surfaces ofthe front plate portions 15.

By way of the base plate portion 3, the fastening member B1 can bereliably fixed to the building frame of the building by hammering nailsthrough the nail openings 5 and/or driving screws through the screwholes 6. The fastening member B1 is fixed yet more thanks to the flangeportions 1 that are provided flush with the base plate portion 3.

By way of the left support portion 8, the right support portion 9, thecentral support portion 10 and the lower support portion 11, an exteriorwall board can be fixed stably through abutting of the fastening memberB1 against the back surface of the exterior wall board when the board isfastened.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 a and the downwardly bentportion 13 a, moreover, allow locking a shiplap portion of the upperedge of an exterior wall board that is disposed below the fasteningmember B1. Also, the bearing portions 16 and the upper-board lockingportions 17 allow locking shiplap portions of the lower edges ofexterior wall boards that are disposed above the fastening member B1.

With the cutouts 2 being provided in the vicinity of the inward sides ofthe left support portion 8 and the right support portion 9, the cutouts2 of the fastening member B1 change temporarily to absorb wind pressurewhen substantial wind pressure acts on the fastened exterior wall boardsafter construction. Thereby, the cutouts 2 allow easing the load actingon the shiplap portions of exterior wall boards that are locked on thecentral horizontal raised portion 12 a, the downwardly bent portion 13a, the bearing portions 16 and the upper-board locking portions 17. Ahighly stable fastened state can be maintained as a result for longperiods of time.

Even if small gaps exist between the fastening member B1 and the shiplapportions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards that are put upabove the fastening member B1, the bentonite that is provided at theleft and right ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, thetop surfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the front surfaces ofthe front plate portions 15 of the fastening member B1, swells onaccount of the first rainwater that intrudes. The swollen bentonitefills up the gaps between the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards and the fastening member B1. The shiplap portionsof the lower edges of the exterior wall boards can abut the fasteningmember B1 reliably as a result, and rainwater or the like trickling downthe vertical joint can be caught and reliably arrested by the centralhorizontal raised portion 12 a, to be drained towards the front of theexterior wall by way of the downwardly bent portion 13 a. Likewise, evenif small gaps form between the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards and the fastening member B1 as a result ofexternal forces applied to the exterior wall board and the fasteningmember B1, the formed gaps are filled up by the bentonite that swells onaccount of intruding rainwater. Therefore, rainwater or the liketrickling down the vertical joint can be arrested and drained over longperiods of time.

Further, the fastening member B1 is formed out of a Galvalume steelsheet and has a simple shape. As a result, the fastening member B1 doesnot deform readily even under the action of external forces, and thusthe exterior wall board can be reliably fixed over long periods of time.The fastening member B1, moreover, can be manufactured easily and withgood productivity, with manufacturing costs kept low.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an external wallconstruction structure according to the present invention, in which thefastening member illustrated in FIG. 1 is fixed to the building frame ofa building.

In the external wall construction structure illustrated in FIG. 2, anexterior wall board A having at least shiplap portions at the upper edgeand the lower edge, as illustrated in FIG. 16, is fixed to a backingmaterial F that is the building frame of the building, using screws Eand the fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the present external wall construction structure, the fasteningmember B1 illustrated in FIG. 1 can be reliably fixed to the backingmaterial F thanks to screws E that are driven through the screw holes 6,with the base plate portion 3 and the flange portions 1 abutting thebacking material F.

Likewise, the exterior wall boards A can be fixed stably thanks to thescrews E that are driven through the screw holes 6, with the leftsupport portion 8, the right support portion 9, the central supportportion 10 and the lower support portion 11 of the fastening member B1abutting the back surface of the exterior wall board A.

The exterior wall board A that is positioned below the fastening memberB1 can be reliably fixed thanks to the screws E that are driven throughthe screw holes 6, with the central horizontal raised portion 12 a andthe downwardly bent portion 13 a of the fastening member B1 locking theshiplap portion of the upper edge of the exterior wall board A that ispositioned below the fastening member B1. The exterior wall boards Athat are positioned above the fastening member B1 can be reliably fixedthanks to the screws E that are driven through the screw holes 6, withthe bearing portions 16 and the upper-board locking portions 17 of thefastening member B1 locking the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards A that are positioned above the fasteningmember B1.

The exterior wall boards A are fixed by way of the fastening member B1having the cutouts 2 in the vicinity of the inward sides of the leftsupport portion 8 and the right support portion 9. The cutouts 2 of thefastening member B1 change temporarily to absorb thereby wind pressurewhen substantial wind pressure acts on the fastened exterior wall boardsA after the latter have been put up. This allows, as a result, easingthe load acting on the shiplap portions of the exterior wall boards Athat are locked on the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, thedownwardly bent portion 13 a, the bearing portions 16 and theupper-board locking portions 17. A highly stable fastened state can bemaintained as a result for long periods of time.

The shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards Athat are positioned above the fastening member B1 are locked, so as toabut the waterproof material D1, by the fastening member B1 having thewaterproof material D1 that comprises bentonite and is provided at theleft and right ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, thetop surfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the front surfaces ofthe front plate portions 15. Therefore, even if small gaps exist betweenthe fastening member B1 and the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards A, the gaps are filled up by the bentonite ofthe waterproof material D1, which swells on account of the firstrainwater that intrudes. The shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards A abut thus reliably the fastening member B1, andrainwater and the like trickling down the vertical joint is caught andreliably arrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, to bedrained towards the front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardlybent portion 13 a. Likewise, even if small gaps form between thefastening member B1 and the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards A as a result of external forces applied to theexterior wall boards A and the fastening member B1, the gaps are filledup by the bentonite, which swells on account of the first rainwater thatintrudes. As a result, rainwater or the like trickling down the verticaljoint can be arrested and drained over long periods of time.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, another exterior wall board A is locked atthe upper right position of the fastening member B1. Specifically, thisother exterior wall board A is fixed by the fastening member B1 in sucha manner that the back surface of the exterior wall board A abuts theright support portion 9 and the central support portion 10 of thefastening member B1, while the shiplap portion of the lower edge of theexterior wall board A is locked on the bearing portion 16 and theupper-board locking portion 17.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, the exterior wall is formed of a plurality of exterior wallboards A that are fastened in a staggered layout to the building frameof a building by means of the fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1and the fastening stopper C illustrated in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 3, the construction structure illustrated in FIG. 2 is used atsites where the shiplap portions of three exterior wall boards A meet toform an inverted T-joint, while the three exterior wall boards A arefixed by the fastening stopper C at sites where the shiplap portions ofthree exterior wall boards A meet to form a T-joint. As a result, theexterior wall boards A can be fixed stably over long periods of time.

The fastening member B1 is fixed at the sites where the shiplap portionsof three exterior wall boards A meet to form an inverted T-joint.Therefore, even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards A and the fastening member B1,the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite of the waterproof materialD1, which swells on account of the first rainwater that intrudes. Theshiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A abutthe fastening member B1 reliably, and rainwater and the like tricklingdown the vertical joint is caught and reliably arrested by the centralhorizontal raised portion 12 a, to be drained towards the front of theexterior wall by way of the downwardly bent portion 13 a. Rainwater orthe like trickling down the vertical joint can thus be arrested anddrained over long periods of time.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present embodiment.

The fastening member B2 illustrated in FIG. 4 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1 except that herein awaterproof material D2 comprises bentonite and EPDM, and has elasticity.Specifically, the fastening member B2 is also formed out of a Galvalumesteel sheet, and comprises flange portions 1, cutouts 2, a base plateportion 3, a bulging portion 4, nail openings 5, screw holes 6, ribs 7,a left support portion 8, aright support portion 9, a central supportportion 10, a lower support portion 11, a central horizontal raisedportion 12 a, a downwardly bent portion 13 a, upwardly bent portions 14,front plate portions 15, bearing portions 16 and upper-board lockingportions 17. The waterproof material D2 is provided on the left andright ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, the topsurfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the front surfaces of thefront plate portions 15.

As is the case in the fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, thefastening member B2 as well can be fixed reliably to the building frameside of a building, the exterior wall boards can be fixed stably, therecan be locked a shiplap portion of the upper edge of an exterior wallboard disposed below the fastening member B2, there can be locked theshiplap portions of the lower edges of exterior wall boards disposedabove the fastening member B2, the fastening member B2 does not deformreadily even under the action of external forces, the exterior wallboards can be reliably fixed over long periods of time, and thefastening member B2 can be manufactured easily and with goodproductivity, with manufacturing costs kept low.

The elastic waterproof material D2, provided at the left and right endsof the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, the top surfaces of theupwardly bent portions 14 and the front surfaces of the front plateportions 15, allows the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards that are put up above the fastening member B2 toabut the fastening member B2 reliably. The waterproof material D2,moreover, comprises bentonite. Hence, even if small gaps exist betweenthe fastening member B2 and the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards that are put up above the fastening member B2,the bentonite that is provided at the left and right ends of the centralhorizontal raised portion 12 a, the top surfaces of the upwardly bentportions 14 and the front surfaces of the front plate portions 15 of thefastening member B2, swells on account of the first rainwater thatintrudes. The swollen bentonite fills up the gaps between the shiplapportions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards and thefastening member B2. The shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards abut the fastening member B2 reliably as a result,and rainwater and the like trickling down the vertical joint is caughtand reliably arrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, tobe drained towards the front of the exterior wall by way of thedownwardly bent portion 13 a. Likewise, even if small gaps form betweenthe shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards andthe fastening member B2 as the EPDM deteriorates over time, the formedgaps are filled up by the bentonite contained in the waterproof materialD2 and that swells on account of intruding rainwater. As a result,rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical joint can be arrestedand drained over long periods of time.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of an external wallconstruction structure according to the present invention, in which thefastening member illustrated in FIG. 4 is fixed to the building frame ofa building.

The fastening member B2 illustrated in FIG. 4 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1 except that herein thewaterproof material D2 comprises bentonite and EPDM, and has elasticity.Therefore, the external wall construction structure illustrated in FIG.5 is identical to the external wall construction structure illustratedin FIG. 2 except that herein the waterproof material D2 comprisesbentonite and EPDM, and has elasticity. Thus, in the external wallconstruction structure illustrated in FIG. 5 as well, the fasteningmember B2 can be reliably fixed to the backing material F thanks toscrews E that are driven through the screw holes 6, with the base plateportion 3 and the flange portions 1 abutting the backing material F.Likewise, the exterior wall boards A can be fixed stably thanks to thescrews E that are driven through the screw holes 6, with the leftsupport portion 8, the right support portion 9, the central supportportion 10 and the lower support portion 11 of the fastening member B2abutting the back surface of the exterior wall board A. The exteriorwall board A that is positioned below the fastening member B2 can bereliably fixed thanks to the screws E that are driven through the screwholes 6, with the central horizontal raised portion 12 a and thedownwardly bent portion 13 a of the fastening member B2 locking theshiplap portion of the upper edge of the exterior wall board A that ispositioned below the fastening member B2. The exterior wall boards Athat are positioned above the fastening member B2 can be reliably fixedthanks to the screws E that are driven through the screw holes 6, withthe bearing portions 16 and the upper-board locking portions 17 of thefastening member B2 locking the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards A that are positioned above the fasteningmember B2. The exterior wall boards A are fixed by way of the fasteningmember B2 having the cutouts 2 in the vicinity of the inward sides ofthe left support portion 8 and the right support portion 9. A highlystable fastened state can be maintained as a result for long periods oftime.

The waterproof material D2, provided at the left and right ends of thecentral horizontal raised portion 12 a, the top surfaces of the upwardlybent portions 14 and the front plate portions 15 of the fastening memberB2, and comprising bentonite and EPDM, is fixed abutting the shiplapportions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A that aredisposed above the fastening member B2. Therefore, even if small gapsexist between the shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exteriorwall boards A and the fastening member B2, the gaps are thus filled upby the bentonite of the waterproof material D2, which swells on accountof the first rainwater that intrudes. The shiplap portions of the loweredges of the exterior wall boards A abut the fastening member B2reliably, and rainwater and the like trickling down the vertical jointis caught and reliably arrested by the central horizontal raised portion12 a, to be drained towards the front of the exterior wall by way of thedownwardly bent portion 13 a. Likewise, even if small gaps form betweenthe fastening member B2 and the shiplap portions of the lower edges ofthe exterior wall boards A as the EPDM deteriorates over time, theformed gaps are filled up by the bentonite contained in the waterproofmaterial D2 and that swells on account of the first rainwater thatintrudes. Therefore, rainwater or the like trickling down the verticaljoint can be arrested and drained over long periods of time.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, another exterior wall board A is locked atthe upper right position of the fastening member B2. Specifically, thisother exterior wall board A is fixed by the fastening member B2 in sucha manner that the back surface of the exterior wall board A abuts theright support portion 9 and the central support portion 10 of thefastening member B2, while the shiplap portion of the lower edge of theexterior wall board A is locked on the bearing portion 16 and theupper-board locking portion 17.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6, the exterior wall is formed of a plurality of exterior wallboards A that are fastened in a staggered layout to the building frameof a building by means of the fastening member B2 illustrated in FIG. 4and the fastening stopper C illustrated in FIG. 18. The exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 6 is identical to the exterior wall illustrated inFIG. 3, except that the fastening member B1 of the exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 3 is now the fastening member B2.

Therefore, the exterior wall boards A can be fixed stably over longperiods of time. The fastening member B2 is fixed at the sites where theshiplap portions of three exterior wall boards A meet to form aninverted T-joint. Therefore, even if small gaps exist between thefastening member B2 and the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall board A, the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite ofthe waterproof material D2, which swells on account of the firstrainwater that intrudes. As a result, rainwater and the like tricklingdown the vertical joint is caught and reliably arrested by the centralhorizontal raised portion 12 a, to be drained towards the front of theexterior wall by way of the downwardly bent portion 13 a. Likewise, evenif small gaps form between the fastening member B2 and the shiplapportions of the lower edges of the exterior wall board A as the EPDMdeteriorates over time, the formed gaps are filled up by the bentonitecontained in the waterproof material D2 and that swells on account ofthe first rainwater that intrudes. Therefore, rainwater or the liketrickling down the vertical joint can be arrested and drained over longperiods of time.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present embodiment.

The fastening member B3 illustrated in FIG. 7 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, except that herein adownwardly bent portion 13 b has a black tape adhered thereto.Specifically, the fastening member B3 is also formed out of a Galvalumesteel sheet, and comprises flange portions 1, cutouts 2, a base plateportion 3, a bulging portion 4, nail openings 5, screw holes 6, ribs 7,a left support portion 8, a right support portion 9, a central supportportion 10, a lower support portion 11, a central horizontal raisedportion 12 a, upwardly bent portions 14, front plate portions 15,bearing portions 16 and upper-board locking portions 17. A waterproofmaterial D1 is provided on the left and right ends of the centralhorizontal raised portion 12 a, the top surfaces of the upwardly bentportions 14 and the front surfaces of the front plate portions 15. Thedownwardly bent portion 13 b is identical to the downwardly bent portion13 a, except that the former has a black tape adhered thereto.

As is the case in the fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, thefastening member B3 as well can be fixed reliably to the building frameside of a building, the exterior wall boards can be fixed stably, therecan be locked a shiplap portion of the upper edge of an exterior wallboard disposed below the fastening member B3, there can be lockedshiplap portions of the lower edges of exterior wall boards that aredisposed above the fastening member B3, the fastening member B3 does notdeform readily even under the action of external forces, and thus theexterior wall boards can be reliably fixed over long periods of time.The fastening member B3, moreover, can be manufactured easily and withgood productivity, with manufacturing costs kept low. Rainwater or thelike trickling down the vertical joint can be caught and reliablyarrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, to be drainedtowards the front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bentportion 13 b. The rainwater or the like can thus be arrested and drainedover long periods of time.

Moreover, the downwardly bent portion 13 b of the fastening member B3has a black tape adhered thereto. Being black, therefore, the downwardlybent portion 13 b of the fastening member B3 remains unnoticed even whengaps form at the seams between exterior wall boards due to contractionof the exterior wall boards themselves or due to distortion of theentire structure to which the exterior wall boards are mounted. Thedownwardly bent portion 13 b is protected by the tape adhered thereto,and is thus less susceptible to corrosion and deterioration.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of an external wallconstruction structure according to the present invention, in which thefastening member illustrated in FIG. 7 is fixed to the building frame ofa building.

The fastening member B3 illustrated in FIG. 7 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, except that herein thedownwardly bent portion 13 b has a black tape adhered thereto.Therefore, the external wall construction structure illustrated in FIG.8 is identical to the external wall construction structure illustratedin FIG. 2 except that herein the downwardly bent portion 13 b has ablack tape adhered thereto. In the external wall construction structureillustrated in FIG. 8 as well, the fastening member B3 can be reliablyfixed to the backing material F thanks to screws E that are driventhrough the screw holes 6, with the base plate portion 3 and the flangeportions 1 abutting the backing material F. Likewise, the exterior wallboards A can be fixed stably thanks to the screws E that are driventhrough the screw holes 6, with the left support portion 8, the rightsupport portion 9, the central support portion 10 and the lower supportportion 11 of the fastening member B3 abutting the back surface of theexterior wall board A. The exterior wall board A that is positionedbelow the fastening member B3 can be reliably fixed thanks to the screwsE that are driven through the screw holes 6, with the central horizontalraised portion 12 a and the downwardly bent portion 13 b of thefastening member B3 locking the shiplap portion of the upper edge of theexterior wall board A that is positioned below the fastening member B3.The exterior wall boards A that are positioned above the fasteningmember B3 can be reliably fixed thanks to the screws E that are driventhrough the screw holes 6, with the bearing portions 16 and theupper-board locking portions 17 of the fastening member B3 locking theshiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A thatare positioned above the fastening member B3. The exterior wall boards Aare fixed by way of the fastening member B3 having the cutouts 2 in thevicinity of the inward sides of the left support portion 8 and the rightsupport portion 9. A highly stable fastened state can be maintained as aresult for long periods of time. In the fastening member B3, thewaterproof material D1 comprising bentonite and provided on the left andright ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, the topsurfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the front plate portions15 is fixed abutting the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards A that are disposed above the fastening member B3.Therefore, even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards A and the fastening member B3,the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite of the waterproof materialD1, which swells on account of the first rainwater that intrudes.Rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical joint can be caughtand reliably arrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 a, tobe drained towards the front of the exterior wall by way of thedownwardly bent portion 13 b. The rainwater or the like can thus bearrested and drained over long periods of time.

Moreover, the downwardly bent portion 13 b of the fastening member B3has a black tape adhered thereto. Being black, therefore, the downwardlybent portion 13 b of the fastening member B3 remains unnoticed even whengaps form at the seams between exterior wall boards due to contractionof the exterior wall boards themselves or due to distortion of theentire structure to which the exterior wall boards are mounted. Thedownwardly bent portion 13 b is protected by the tape adhered thereto,and is thus less susceptible to corrosion and deterioration.

Although not shown in FIG. 8, another exterior wall board A is locked atthe upper right position of the fastening member B3. Specifically, thisother exterior wall board A is fixed by the fastening member B3 in sucha manner that the back surface of the exterior wall board A abuts theright support portion 9 and the central support portion 10 of thefastening member B3, while the shiplap portion of the lower edge of theexterior wall board A is locked on the bearing portion 16 and theupper-board locking portion 17.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 9, the exterior wall is formed of a plurality of exterior wallboards A that are fastened in a staggered layout to the building frameof a building by means of the fastening member B3 illustrated in FIG. 7and the fastening stopper C illustrated in FIG. 18. The exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 9 is identical to the exterior wall illustrated inFIG. 3, except that the fastening member B1 of the exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 3 is now the fastening member B3.

Therefore, the exterior wall boards A can be fixed stably over longperiods of time. The fastening member B3 is fixed at the sites where theshiplap portions of three exterior wall boards A meet to form aninverted T-joint. Even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portionsof the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A and the fasteningmember B3, the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite of thewaterproof material D1, which swells on account of the first rainwaterthat intrudes. Rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical jointcan be caught and reliably arrested by the central horizontal raisedportion 12 a, to be drained towards the front of the exterior wall byway of the downwardly bent portion 13 b. The rainwater or the like canthus be arrested and drained over long periods of time.

Moreover, the downwardly bent portion 13 b of the fastening member B3has a black tape adhered thereto. Being black, therefore, the downwardlybent portion 13 b of the fastening member B3 remains unnoticed also incases were gaps form at sites where the shiplap portions of threeexterior wall boards A meet to form an inverted T-joint, due tocontraction of the exterior wall boards A themselves or due todistortion of the entire structure to which the exterior wall boards Aare mounted. The downwardly bent portion 13 b is protected by the tapeadhered thereto, and is thus less susceptible to corrosion anddeterioration.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present embodiment.

A fastening member B4 illustrated in FIG. 10 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, except that herein a centralhorizontal raised portion 12 b has a black tape adhered thereto, and adownwardly bent portion 13 b has a black tape adhered thereto.Specifically, the fastening member B4 is also formed out of a Galvalumesteel sheet, and comprises flange portions 1, cutouts 2, a base plateportion 3, a bulging portion 4, nail openings 5, screw holes 6, ribs 7,a left support portion 8, a right support portion 9, a central supportportion 10, a lower support portion 11, upwardly bent portions 14, frontplate portions 15, bearing portions 16 and upper-board locking portions17. A waterproof material D1 is provided on the left and right ends ofthe central horizontal raised portion 12 b, the top surfaces of theupwardly bent portions 14 and the front surfaces of the front plateportions 15. The central horizontal raised portion 12 b is identical tothe central horizontal raised portion 12 a, except that the former has ablack tape formed thereon. The downwardly bent portion 13 b is identicalto the downwardly bent portion 13 a, except that the former has a blacktape adhered thereto.

As is the case in the fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, thefastening member B4 as well can be fixed reliably to the building frameside of a building, the exterior wall boards can be fixed stably, therecan be locked a shiplap portion of the upper edge of an exterior wallboard disposed below the fastening member B4, there can be lockedshiplap portions of the lower edges of exterior wall boards that aredisposed above the fastening member B4, the fastening member B4 does notdeform readily even under the action of external forces, and thus theexterior wall boards can be reliably fixed over long periods of time.The fastening member B4, moreover, can be manufactured easily and withgood productivity, with manufacturing costs kept low. Rainwater or thelike trickling down the vertical joint can be caught and reliablyarrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 b, to be drainedtowards the front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bentportion 13 b. The rainwater or the like can thus be arrested and drainedover long periods of time.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 b and the downwardly bentportion 13 b of the fastening member B4 have each a black tape adheredthereto. Being black, therefore, the central horizontal raised portion12 b and the downwardly bent portion 13 b of the fastening member B4remain unnoticed even when gaps form at the seams between exterior wallboards due to contraction of the exterior wall boards themselves or dueto distortion of the entire structure to which the exterior wall boardsare mounted. The central horizontal raised portion 12 b and thedownwardly bent portion 13 b are protected by the tape adhered thereto,and are thus less susceptible to corrosion and deterioration.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of an externalwall construction structure according to the present invention, in whichthe fastening member illustrated in FIG. 10 is fixed to the buildingframe of a building.

The fastening member B4 illustrated in FIG. 10 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, except that a black tape isadhered to the central horizontal raised portion 12 b and the downwardlybent portion 13 b. Therefore, the external wall construction structureillustrated in FIG. 11 is identical to the external wall constructionstructure illustrated in FIG. 2 except that herein a black tape isadhered to the central horizontal raised portion 12 b and the downwardlybent portion 13 b. Specifically, in the external wall constructionstructure illustrated in FIG. 11 as well, the fastening member B4 can bereliably fixed to the backing material F thanks to screws E that aredriven through the screw holes 6, with the base plate portion 3 and theflange portions 1 abutting the backing material F. Likewise, theexterior wall boards A can be fixed stably thanks to the screws E thatare driven through the screw holes 6, with the left support portion 8,the right support portion 9, the central support portion 10 and thelower support portion 11 of the fastening member B4 abutting the backsurface of the exterior wall board A. The exterior wall board A that ispositioned below the fastening member B4 can be reliably fixed thanks tothe screws E that are driven through the screw holes 6, with the centralhorizontal raised portion 12 b and the downwardly bent portion 13 b ofthe fastening member B4 locking the shiplap portion of the upper edge ofthe exterior wall board A that is positioned below the fastening memberB4. The exterior wall boards A that are positioned above the fasteningmember B4 can be reliably fixed thanks to the screws E that are driventhrough the screw holes 6, with the bearing portions 16 and theupper-board locking portions 17 of the fastening member B4 locking theshiplap portions of the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A thatare positioned above the fastening member B4. The exterior wall boards Aare fixed by way of the fastening member B4 having the cutouts 2 in thevicinity of the inward sides of the left support portion 8 and the rightsupport portion 9. A highly stable fastened state can be maintained as aresult for long periods of time. In the fastening member B3, thewaterproof material D1 comprising bentonite and provided on the left andright ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 b, the topsurfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the front plate portions15 is fixed abutting the shiplap portions of the lower edges of theexterior wall boards A that are disposed above the fastening member B4.Therefore, even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards A and the fastening member B4,the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite of the waterproof materialD1, which swells on account of the first rainwater that intrudes.Rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical joint can therefore becaught and reliably arrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12b, to be drained towards the front of the exterior wall by way of thedownwardly bent portion 13 b. The rainwater or the like can thus bearrested and drained over long periods of time.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 b and the downwardly bentportion 13 b of the fastening member B4 have each a black tape adheredthereto. Being black, therefore, the central horizontal raised portion12 b and the downwardly bent portion 13 b of the fastening member B4remain unnoticed even when gaps form at the seams between exterior wallboards due to contraction of the exterior wall boards themselves or dueto distortion of the entire structure to which the exterior wall boardsare mounted. The central horizontal raised portion 12 b and thedownwardly bent portion 13 b are protected by the tape adhered thereto,and are thus less susceptible to corrosion and deterioration.

Although not shown in FIG. 11, another exterior wall board A is lockedat the upper right position of the fastening member B4. Specifically,this other exterior wall board A is fixed by the fastening member B4 insuch a manner that the back surface of the exterior wall board A abutsthe right support portion 9 and the central support portion 10 of thefastening member B4, while the shiplap portion of the lower edge of theexterior wall board A is locked on the bearing portion 16 and theupper-board locking portion 17.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG.11.

In FIG. 12, the exterior wall is formed of a plurality of exterior wallboards A that are fastened in a staggered layout to the building frameof a building by means of the fastening member B4 illustrated in FIG. 10and the fastening stopper C illustrated in FIG. 18. The exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 12 is identical to the exterior wall illustrated inFIG. 3, except that the fastening member B1 of the exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 3 is now the fastening member B4.

Therefore, the exterior wall boards A can be fixed stably over longperiods of time. The fastening member B4 is fixed at the sites where theshiplap portions of three exterior wall boards A meet to form aninverted T-joint. Even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portionsof the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A and the fasteningmember B4, the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite of thewaterproof material D1, which swells on account of the first rainwaterthat intrudes. Rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical jointcan therefore be caught and reliably arrested by the central horizontalraised portion 12 b, to be drained towards the front of the exteriorwall byway of the downwardly bent portion 13 b. The rainwater or thelike can thus be arrested and drained over long periods of time.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 b and the downwardly bentportion 13 b of the fastening member B4 have each a black tape adheredthereto. Being black, therefore, the central horizontal raised portion12 b and the downwardly bent portion 13 b of the fastening member B4remain unnoticed also in cases were gaps form at sites where the shiplapportions of three exterior wall boards A meet to form an invertedT-joint, due to contraction of the exterior wall boards themselves ordue to distortion of the entire structure to which the exterior wallboards are mounted. The central horizontal raised portion 12 b and thedownwardly bent portion 13 b are protected by the tape adhered thereto,and are thus less susceptible to corrosion and deterioration.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a fasteningmember according to the present embodiment.

A fastening member B5 illustrated in FIG. 13 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, except that herein a centralhorizontal raised portion 12 c is coated with a black epoxy resincoating, a downwardly bent portion 13 c is coated with a black epoxyresin coating, and a waterproof material D2 comprises bentonite andEPDM. Specifically, the fastening member B5 is also formed out of aGalvalume steel sheet, and comprises flange portions 1, cutouts 2, abase plate portion 3, a bulging portion 4, nail openings 5, screw holes6, ribs 7, a left support portion 8, a right support portion 9, acentral support portion 10, a lower support portion 11, upwardly bentportions 14, front plate portions 15, bearing portions 16 andupper-board locking portions 17. The waterproof material D2 is providedon the left and right ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12c, the top surfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the frontsurfaces of the front plate portions 15. The central horizontal raisedportion 12 c is identical to the central horizontal raised portion 12 a,except that the former is coated with a black epoxy resin coating. Thedownwardly bent portion 13 c is identical to the downwardly bent portion13 a, except that the former is coated with a black epoxy resin coating.

As is the case in the fastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, thefastening member B5 as well can be fixed reliably to the building frameside of a building, the exterior wall boards can be fixed stably, therecan be locked a shiplap portion of the upper edge of an exterior wallboard disposed below the fastening member B5, there can be lockedshiplap portions of the lower edges of exterior wall boards that aredisposed above the fastening member B5, the fastening member B5 does notdeform readily even under the action of external forces, and thus theexterior wall boards can be reliably fixed over long periods of time.The fastening member B5, moreover, can be manufactured easily and withgood productivity, with manufacturing costs kept low. Rainwater or thelike trickling down the vertical joint can be caught and reliablyarrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 c, to be drainedtowards the front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bentportion 13 c. The rainwater or the like can thus be arrested and drainedover long periods of time.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 c and the downwardly bentportion 13 c of the fastening member B5 are coated with a black epoxyresin coating. Being black, therefore, the central horizontal raisedportion 12 c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c of the fasteningmember B5 remain unnoticed even when gaps form at the seams betweenexterior wall boards due to contraction of the exterior wall boardsthemselves or due to distortion of the entire structure to which theexterior wall boards are mounted. The central horizontal raised portion12 c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c are protected by the blackepoxy resin coating, and are thus less susceptible to corrosion anddeterioration.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of an externalwall construction structure according to the present invention, in whichthe fastening member illustrated in FIG. 13 is fixed to the buildingframe of a building.

The fastening member B5 illustrated in FIG. 13 is identical to thefastening member B1 illustrated in FIG. 1, except that herein thecentral horizontal raised portion 12 c and the downwardly bent portion13 c are both coated with a black epoxy resin coating. Therefore, theexternal wall construction structure illustrated in FIG. 14 is identicalto the external wall construction structure illustrated in FIG. 2 exceptthat herein the central horizontal raised portion 12 c and thedownwardly bent portion 13 c are both coated with a black epoxy resincoating. In the external wall construction structure illustrated in FIG.14 as well, the fastening member B5 can be reliably fixed to the backingmaterial F thanks to screws E that are driven through the screw holes 6,with the base plate portion 3 and the flange portions 1 abutting thebacking material F. Likewise, the exterior wall boards A can be fixedstably thanks to the screws E that are driven through the screw holes 6,with the left support portion 8, the right support portion 9, thecentral support portion 10 and the lower support portion 11 of thefastening member B5 abutting the back surface of the exterior wall boardA. The exterior wall board A that is positioned below the fasteningmember B5 can be reliably fixed thanks to the screws E that are driventhrough the screw holes 6, with the central horizontal raised portion 12c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c of the fastening member B5locking the shiplap portion of the upper edge of the exterior wall boardA that is positioned below the fastening member B5. The exterior wallboards A that are positioned above the fastening member B5 can bereliably fixed thanks to the screws E that are driven through the screwholes 6, with the bearing portions 16 and the upper-board lockingportions 17 of the fastening member B5 locking the shiplap portions ofthe lower edges of the exterior wall boards A that are positioned abovethe fastening member B5. The exterior wall boards A are fixed by way ofthe fastening member B5 having the cutouts 2 in the vicinity of theinward sides of the left support portion 8 and the right support portion9. A highly stable fastened state can be maintained as a result for longperiods of time. The waterproof material D2, provided at the left andright ends of the central horizontal raised portion 12 c, the topsurfaces of the upwardly bent portions 14 and the front plate portions15 of the fastening member B5, and comprising bentonite and EPDM, isfixed abutting the shiplap portions of the lower edges of the exteriorwall boards A that are disposed above the fastening member B5. Hence,even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portions of the lower edgesof the exterior wall boards A and the fastening member B5, the gaps arethus filled up by the bentonite of the waterproof material D2, whichswells on account of the first rainwater that intrudes. Rainwater or thelike trickling down the vertical joint can be caught and reliablyarrested by the central horizontal raised portion 12 c, to be drainedtowards the front of the exterior wall by way of the downwardly bentportion 13 c. The rainwater or the like can thus be arrested and drainedover long periods of time.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 c and the downwardly bentportion 13 c of the fastening member B5 are both coated with a blackepoxy resin coating. Being black, therefore, the central horizontalraised portion 12 c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c of thefastening member B5 remain unnoticed even when gaps form at the seamsbetween exterior wall boards due to contraction of the exterior wallboards themselves or due to distortion of the entire structure to whichthe exterior wall boards are mounted. The central horizontal raisedportion 12 c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c are protected by theblack epoxy resin coating, and are thus less susceptible to corrosionand deterioration.

Although not shown in FIG. 14, another exterior wall board A is lockedat the upper right position of the fastening member B5. Specifically,this other exterior wall board A is fixed by the fastening member B5 insuch a manner that the back surface of the exterior wall board A abutsthe right support portion 9 and the central support portion 10 of thefastening member B5, while the shiplap portion of the lower edge of theexterior wall board A is locked on the bearing portion 16 and theupper-board locking portion 17.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an external wall comprising multiplesrows of the external wall construction structures illustrated in FIG.14.

In FIG. 15, the exterior wall is formed of a plurality of exterior wallboards A that are fastened in a staggered layout to the building frameof a building by means of the fastening member B5 illustrated in FIG. 13and the fastening stopper C illustrated in FIG. 18. The exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 15 is identical to the exterior wall illustrated inFIG. 3, except that the fastening member B1 of the exterior wallillustrated in FIG. 3 is now the fastening member B5.

Therefore, the exterior wall boards A can be fixed stably over longperiods of time. The fastening member B5 is fixed at the sites where theshiplap portions of three exterior wall boards A meet to form aninverted T-joint. Even if small gaps exist between the shiplap portionsof the lower edges of the exterior wall boards A and the fasteningmember B5, the gaps are thus filled up by the bentonite of thewaterproof material D2, which swells on account of the first rainwaterthat intrudes. Rainwater or the like trickling down the vertical jointcan be caught and reliably arrested by the central horizontal raisedportion 12 c, to be drained towards the front of the exterior wall byway of the downwardly bent portion 13 c. The rainwater or the like canthus be arrested and drained over long periods of time.

The central horizontal raised portion 12 c and the downwardly bentportion 13 c of the fastening member B5 are both coated with a blackepoxy resin coating. Being black, therefore, the central horizontalraised portion 12 c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c of thefastening member B5 remain unnoticed also in cases were gaps form atsites where the shiplap portions of three exterior wall boards A meet toform an inverted T-joint, due to contraction of the exterior wall boardsA themselves or due to distortion of the entire structure to which theexterior wall boards A are mounted. The central horizontal raisedportion 12 c and the downwardly bent portion 13 c are protected by theblack epoxy resin coating, and are thus less susceptible to corrosionand deterioration.

Embodiments of the present invention have been explained above, but theinvention is not limited to or by the embodiments. Various modificationscan be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims. For instance, thewaterproof material D2, the central horizontal raised portion 12 b andthe downwardly bent portion 13 b may be combined, and the exterior wallcan be made up of two or more types of the fastening members B1 to B5.The fastening members B1 to B5 may be used at sites other than the siteswhere the shiplap portions of three exterior wall boards meet to form aninverted T-junction, for instance at sites where the shiplap portion ofthe lower end and the shiplap portion of the upper end of two exteriorwall boards fit each other. Instead of using screws, the fasteningmembers B1 to B5 may be fixed by hammering nails through the nailopenings 5. A waterproof material formed of a laminate of bentonite andan elastic material may also be used instead of the waterproof materialD1 or the waterproof material D2. Further, not just the centralhorizontal raised portion and/or the downwardly bent portion but theentire fastening member may be coated in a blackish color.

The present invention allows providing a fastening member and anexternal wall construction structure in which the shiplap portions ofthe lower edges of the exterior wall boards that are put up above thefastening member abut the fastening member reliably, in which theabutting state of the fastening member with the shiplap portions of thelower edges of the exterior wall boards is preserved also afterconstruction, and in which no part of the fastening member isnoticeable, even when exposed through gaps at the seams between exteriorwall boards.

1. A fastening member for an exterior wall board, comprising: a leftsupport portion and a right support portion provided at left and rightsides of the fastening member, and abutting a back surface of theexterior wall board when the board is fastened, the fastening memberfurther comprising, at a region flanked by the left support portion andthe right support portion: a base plate portion constituting a mountportion to be fixed to a building frame; a central support portion thatabuts the back surface of the exterior wall board when the board isfastened; a central horizontal raised portion that is erected, in ahorizontal direction, frontward from the lower end of the centralsupport portion; a downwardly bent portion that is bent downwards fromthe front end of the central horizontal raised portion; upwardly bentportions that are provided at the left and right of the downwardly bentportion, and are bent obliquely upwards from the front end of thecentral horizontal raised portion; front plate portions that are bentdownwards from the upper end of the upwardly bent portions; bearingportions that are erected in the horizontal direction, at the left andright of the central horizontal raised portion, frontward from thecentral support portion; upper-board locking portions bent upwards fromthe front end of the bearing portions; and a lower support portion thatabuts the back surface of the exterior wall board when the board isfastened, the left support portion, the right support portion, the lowersupport portion and the central support portion of the fastening memberbeing formed contiguously to each other through drawing one steel sheet;the base plate portion being formed through depressing part of the upperregion of the steel sheet towards the back surface thereof; the centralhorizontal raised portion, the downwardly bent portion, the upwardlybent portions, the front plate portions, the bearing portions and theupper-board locking portions being formed through cutting and raisingpart of the lower region of the steel sheet towards the front surfacethereof; a waterproof material being provided at the left and right endsof the central horizontal raised portion, the top surfaces of theupwardly bent portions and the front surfaces of the front plateportions; and the waterproof material being made of bentonite.
 2. Thefastening member according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof materialis made of bentonite and an elastic material.
 3. The fastening memberaccording to claim 1, wherein the downwardly bent portion is coated in ablackish color or has a blackish tape adhered thereto.
 4. The fasteningmember according to claim 2, wherein the downwardly bent portion iscoated in a blackish color or has a blackish tape adhered thereto. 5.The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein the centralhorizontal raised portion is coated in a blackish color or has ablackish tape adhered thereto.
 6. The fastening member according toclaim 2, wherein the central horizontal raised portion is coated in ablackish color or has a blackish tape adhered thereto.
 7. The fasteningmember according to claim 3, wherein the central horizontal raisedportion is coated in a blackish color or has a blackish tape adheredthereto.
 8. The fastening member according to claim 4, wherein thecentral horizontal raised portion is coated in a blackish color or has ablackish tape adhered thereto.
 9. An external wall constructionstructure, comprising: a plurality of fastening members according toclaim 1 mounted in multiple rows such that a base plate portion abuts amounting surface of a building frame; an exterior wall board havingshiplap portions at least at an upper edge and a lower edge, andfastened in such a manner that the back surface thereof abuts the leftsupport portion, right support portion, central support portion andlower support portion of the fastening member; the shiplap portions ofthe upper edges of the exterior wall board are locked on the centralhorizontal raised portion and the downwardly bent portion of thefastening member at an upper position; the shiplap portions of the loweredge of the exterior wall board are locked on the bearing portions andthe upper-board locking portions of the fastening member at a lowerposition; and the shiplap portions of the lower edge of the exteriorwall boards abut the waterproof material.
 10. An external wallconstruction structure, comprising: a plurality of fastening membersaccording to claim 2 mounted in multiple rows such that a base plateportion abuts a mounting surface of a building frame; an exterior wallboard having shiplap portions at least at an upper edge and a loweredge, and fastened in such a manner that the back surface thereof abutsthe left support portion, right support portion, central support portionand lower support portion of the fastening member; the shiplap portionsof the upper edges of the exterior wall board are locked on the centralhorizontal raised portion and the downwardly bent portion of thefastening member at an upper position; the shiplap portions of the loweredge of the exterior wall board are locked on the bearing portions andthe upper-board locking portions of the fastening member at a lowerposition; and the shiplap portions of the lower edge of the exteriorwall boards abut the waterproof material.
 11. An external wallconstruction structure, comprising: a plurality of fastening membersaccording to claim 3 mounted in multiple rows such that a base plateportion abuts a mounting surface of a building frame; an exterior wallboard having shiplap portions at least at an upper edge and a loweredge, and fastened in such a manner that the back surface thereof abutsthe left support portion, right support portion, central support portionand lower support portion of the fastening member; the shiplap portionsof the upper edges of the exterior wall board are locked on the centralhorizontal raised portion and the downwardly bent portion of thefastening member at an upper position; the shiplap portions of the loweredge of the exterior wall board are locked on the bearing portions andthe upper-board locking portions of the fastening member at a lowerposition; and the shiplap portions of the lower edge of the exteriorwall boards abut the waterproof material.
 12. An external wallconstruction structure, comprising: a plurality of fastening membersaccording to claim 5 mounted in multiple rows such that a base plateportion abuts a mounting surface of a building frame; an exterior wallboard having shiplap portions at least at an upper edge and a loweredge, and fastened in such a manner that the back surface thereof abutsthe left support portion, right support portion, central support portionand lower support portion of the fastening member; the shiplap portionsof the upper edges of the exterior wall board are locked on the centralhorizontal raised portion and the downwardly bent portion of thefastening member at an upper position; the shiplap portions of the loweredge of the exterior wall board are locked on the bearing portions andthe upper-board locking portions of the fastening member at a lowerposition; and the shiplap portions of the lower edge of the exteriorwall boards abut the waterproof material.
 13. An external wallconstruction structure, comprising: a plurality of fastening membersaccording to claim 8 mounted in multiple rows such that a base plateportion abuts a mounting surface of a building frame; an exterior wallboard having shiplap portions at least at an upper edge and a loweredge, and fastened in such a manner that the back surface thereof abutsthe left support portion, right support portion, central support portionand lower support portion of the fastening member; the shiplap portionsof the upper edges of the exterior wall board are locked on the centralhorizontal raised portion and the downwardly bent portion of thefastening member at an upper position; the shiplap portions of the loweredge of the exterior wall board are locked on the bearing portions andthe upper-board locking portions of the fastening member at a lowerposition; and the shiplap portions of the lower edge of the exteriorwall boards abut the waterproof material.